Kyle Hamilton holds his cellphone that shows his blood sugar readings received from his Continuous Glucose Monitoring system. (Submitted photo/Kyle Hamilton)

By Angela Brown

Diabetes management

Local resident asks province to expand Continuous Glucose Monitoring coverage

Jun 14, 2021 | 3:05 PM

A Battlefords resident is hoping the province will expand its coverage for a Continuous Glucose Monitor [CGM] system for diabetes management.

Kyle Hamilton, 21, says the province is now funding it for children and youth under age 18, but adults still have to pay out-of-pocket.

Hamilton, who has Type 1 Diabetes, says the monitoring system has helped him keep on track of his diabetes.

Over the past four years he had been dealing with severe hypoglycemic episodes during the night while sleeping, and ended up in hospital for treatment after experiencing seizures on a few occasions.

But Hamilton says the CGM system has saved him from having more seizures.

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“It helps a lot,” he said. ”You get to see where your blood sugar is going, whether it is going to go low or high. You can act proactively.”

Hamilton is asking for people to sign his petition available on change.org so the CGMs can be accessible to everyone who needs one, regardless of age.

To date, the petition has received 169 signatures.

Hamilton says it would be more cost efficient in the long run if the government provided coverage for all who use it.

“The cost would be beneficial to them providing Continuous Glucose Monitors rather than treating diabetic-related complications,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton, who works as a farm labourer, uses a Continuous Glucose Monitoring system that costs about $300 per month with a subscription.

His family has been helping him with the cost, otherwise he could not afford it.

According to Diabetes Canada, a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is a wearable device that tracks blood glucose (sugar) every few minutes, throughout the day and night. The readings are relayed in real time to a device which can be read by the patient, caregiver or health-care provider, even remotely.

“This can be lifesaving for people who experience low glucose at night and risk not waking up in the morning,” the organization said on its website.

Diabetes Canada’s director of Government Relations for Western Canada Joan King says it was a step forward for the province to begin covering the cost for children and youth. She hopes they will extend it to adults as well.

“They will see the benefit with better health outcomes, having provided the coverage now to one age group,” she said. “I think they will recognize, with our advocacy work, that it’s in their best interests cost-wise to expand coverage to other age groups.”

King said the Saskatchewan government was one of the first governments to cover CGMs for any part of their population, but there is still a concern for those ages 18 years and over who don’t have coverage.

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health said in a statement to battlefordsNOW that it recognizes that diabetes is a serious concern and patients with this disease are encouraged to work with their healthcare providers to maintain optimum health.

“The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health is working to ensure that issues related to diabetes are addressed through a coordinated approach that includes prevention and management of the disease and its complications,” they said.

The ministry said the government has expanded the Saskatchewan Insulin Pump Program to cover Type 1 diabetics of all ages who meet certain medical criteria.

Effective June 1, full coverage was introduced for Continuous and Flash Glucose Monitoring Systems (CGM/FGM) for children and youth under the age of 18 who meet certain medical criteria.

“The Ministry of Health frequently reviews programs and is continually looking for opportunities to improve patient-centred care in a cost‑sustainable manner. Prescribers and pharmacists will be informed if there is any change in coverage,” the ministry stated.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow